Where might I find a good mail order source for a variety of southern field pea seed ? Park used to carry a few but not even one variety in their current catalog. I would rather buy somewhat locally than from somewhere way up north or out west.
southern seed source for field peas?
Any local feed and seed that carries Pennington seeds should have them. There are 8 to 10 of them around here. I f you want to mail order try http://www.cooperseeds.com/pages/vegetables/Peas.html They operate out of Lawrenceville, GA. Any southern pea is also called a field pea, but many folks refer to the little brown crowder as opposed to the whites and speckled.
Baker Creek has quite a few heirlooms...but If you want enough to eat rather than grow out for seed this year, I'd do like Farmerdill said and go to the local co-op or feed n seed.
We have Southern States here in this area and they have several vareties.
Rose,
What is the name of the pea you're looking for?
And I second the great advice you rec'd.
They're not local but Willhite sells several varieites of peas. I really like this Co.
I don't have a name for what I want, just remember seeing many varieties growing in my father-in-law's garden and then later, in a bowl on the dining room table. All were delicious. MIL had a favorite she called lady peas, but I don't know what that could be. I wll go up to Murphy, NC, about 14 miles from here, to my local feed and seed. As per Dill's advice, they have many seeds in packs and bins so I will see what I can find. I only need small amounts. Any advice or input about flavor preferences from those that grow and eat them?
Thanks to all for the input, much appreciated.
Flavor is quite variable with cultivar but all are good. Lady is a small round white pea, White Acre is similar. These have a milder flavor than the brown peas. Brown peas have the strongest flavor, with the little ones stronger than the larger crowders. Black peas tend as friend to whom I gave some stated ("make thier own gravy") they make a good soup. Zippers tend to stay light green are very tastety, easier to shell them most. Collossus is a very lage pea, easy to shell, but milder than the small peas. There are lots of other varieties, have not found one I did not like, Big Boys which are extra sized form of Blackeyes are popular here also.
Thank you very much Dill, that is the kind of priceless information you can only get from experience. Now I can take a list with me to the feed store as well as examine the seeds visually before I buy any. So much appreciated.
They'll probably have some form of Purple Hull pea, which is very popular around here. The green pods will turn purplish pink when they are ready. They make their own pot liquor and are very good. Another pea that's good, but lighter in color is Mississippi Silver...it's still being sold commercially too.
I equate the little brown ones with Whippoorwills...several strains out there...and not commercially available very often. The smaller ones are the older ones.
There's hundreds of cultivars of cowpea, and like Farmerdill...I've never met one I didn't like. They are easy to grow and few pests can get the better of them.
Thanks Melody. I'm heading to the store tomorrow.
The plants can get out of hand...be sure to give them plenty of room in the garden. That's why they are called 'field peas'...mainly grown in larger fields like corn..not in the kitchen gardens. I grow them in my kitchen garden, but give them plenty of room.
Historically, they were used as feed for man and beast...sometimes will be referred to as 'stock peas'. The elite gentry along the eastern seaboard didn't use them as table fare, thinking they were fodder for poor folks, animals and slaves.
Boy, did they miss out!
North African in origin, they made their way to the New World with the slave trade...lots of cultivars in the islands...Jamacia has contributed several. They have a wonderful history and should be given much more respect than they get.
Confederate soldiers carried Clay peas in their pouches when they were on the march, and they sustained many folks through hard times.
Next to tomatoes...cowpeas are my favorite veggie...I can make a meal of peas, cornbread and sliced tomatoes....wouldn't have anything else there to upset the perfect balance of the universe....the ultimate meal!
Try Wilhite in Texas:
http://www.willhiteseed.com/
Debbie
Many of the cultivars are erect and not too large. Older cultivars tend to vine and do take up a lot of space. Melody's discussion reminded me. In my youth folks planted the little field peas and cut them for hay, or sometimes used them as agreen maure crop. Back in Viginia, that was the Whippoorwill, Here in Georgia, Iron Clay. These are still planted extensively, largely for wildlife plots. Which brings me to the point, Food Lion sells dried field peas, (these are Iron Clay or something very similar). These are good eating peas, but I am lazy to fool with picking and shelling these tiny peas. I usually get my Blackeyes from the grocery story, germination is good, and for a few I don't mind a generic cultivar.
I love Colossus...after I have harvested the early corn...around early July. I've had less problem with bugs this way. The peas will produce before frost here and I just plant them in a big patch, not rows and let them flop.. :)
Well, good to hear all this info. I hadn't realized they needed a lot of space but I will allow for that. I'm with you Melody, on the meal and the history background, you too Dill. It used to be in my "olden days" of 40 or so years ago that most folks had gardens and tried to grow what they could to feed themselves. The food was local, more pure and a whole lot fresher. It's sad to me to see how our country has decended into this false prosperity of fast and takeout food and sad shipped vegetables from far away. As long as I can get out there, I'll be growing my own food as much as I'm able and trying a few new things too.
Pretty much what you'll buy in the seed stores should be pretty well behaved...if you go for some of the heirloom types...like Farmerdill said...they'll vine....I planted Blue Goose one year and only allowed for a normal sized plant...they completely grew together in the rows...crawled across the main row and up my pole bean poles. Some vines were over 12 feet long! The older the variety, the more viney they get. Since I'm into the older cultivars...mine get out of hand in a hurry.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange has several heirloom field pea varieties. http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html
Thanks Mary, I haven't gotten that far yet. So much to do this time of year in the garden......